Learn how to build your internal heat and bring discipline to your yoga practice without getting burnt along the way with this niyama, tapas. Say What? Tapas (not to be confused with delicious Spanish nibbles) is like fire. Derived from the Sanskrit word ‘tap’ which means ‘to burn’, Ashtanga teacher Melanie Cooper calls it the […]
Ever looked in the mirror and not liked what you see? Ever criticised yourself for being too fat, too skinny, too tall, too short? Do you congratulate yourself on your long legs, flat stomach or shiny hair? Whether it’s positive or negative, these thoughts and beliefs towards ourselves are a classic example of our ego
What can’t you live without? Whether it’s not knowing when to say no to that last drink, eating one too many cakes, or even being attached to how you think your body should look on the yoga mat, attachment isn’t about giving up the pleasures in life, more about learning how to enjoy them. Renounce
So we’ve been going through the Eight Limbs of Yoga for the past few weeks. We started with the grossest, or most physical of the limbs, yama and niyama, moved on to asana, pranayama and pratyahara. We’ve also explained why we practice these limbs: to tame that ever-mischievous monkey mind. Now we start getting to the
If you’ve been following my series of the eight limbs of yoga, you may be aware that I’m rather fond of a good analogy. This article is no different, as we venture into the ever-subtler aspects! Limb six was dharana (concentration), and our seventh limb of dhyana develops our practice further from there. The analogy I
Lululemon has long been a lifestyle brand, famous for its athleisure and athletic gear. From their visual branding to the classes they hold in store, Lululemon has been synonymous with sweating your way to health and happiness in high performance, fashionable kit. The brand’s latest campaign takes a step beyond offering a lifestyle, however: now,
How ancient gestures can boost your health, enhance your yoga and deepen your meditation. Every so often it’s fun to add a new layer to your practice. Something that takes you a little further into the yoga experience, sheds new light on familiar territory, or guides the way towards uncharted realms within. Mudras can do
The subject of yoga is like Doctor Who’s tardis. Despite its apparent simplicity, yoga, once opened up seems to be as vast as the universe itself. Take, for example, the path of yoga. It’s the eight-limbed path, right? Well yes, but, no, wrong. There are actually three other yogic paths, that are also routes to
Yoga means to unite or yoke together and that’s what the last chakra is all about: unity. Overview of Sahasrara The violet chakra is called Sahasrara which means ‘a thousand petals.’ It is positioned just above the crown, or top of the head and governs our ability to experience the super-consciousness. Just as the root
There is a lot to consider when welcoming Ayurveda into your life. The benefits are substantial and can be different for each person. As with most life-changing practices, at first, the benefits will be subtle. For example, you may feel fresher and lighter because you began drinking warm water (rather than cold). And while the
